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Xu Sheng

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Xu Sheng
徐じょ盛もり
General Who Stabilises the East
(安東あんどう將軍しょうぐん)
In office
222 (222) – c. 225 (c. 225)
MonarchSun Quan
General Who Builds Martial Might
(建たて武たけし將軍しょうぐん)
In office
? (?)–? (?)
Administrator of Lujiang (廬いおり江こう太守たいしゅ)
In office
? (?)–? (?)
General of the Household (中ちゅう郎ろう將しょう)
In office
? (?)–? (?)
Prefect of Wuhu (蕪かぶら湖みずうみ令れい)
In office
? (?)–? (?)
Colonel (校こう尉じょう)
In office
? (?)–? (?)
Chief of Chaisang (柴しば桑くわ長ちょう)
In office
? (?)–? (?)
Personal details
BornUnknown
Ju County, Shandong
Diedc.224–229[a]
ChildrenXu Kai
OccupationGeneral
Courtesy nameWenxiang (文ぶん嚮)
PeerageMarquis of Wuhu
(蕪かぶら湖みずうみ侯こう)
In this Chinese name, the family name is Xu.

Xu Sheng (died c.224–229),[1] courtesy name Wenxiang, was a military general serving under the warlord Sun Quan in the late Eastern Han dynasty and early Three Kingdoms period of China.[2]

Early life and career

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Xu Sheng was from Ju County (莒縣), Langya Commandery (琅邪郡ぐん), which is present-day Ju County, Shandong. When chaos broke out in central and northern China towards the end of the Eastern Han dynasty, Xu Sheng moved from his hometown to Wu Commandery (around present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu) in southern China, where he gained a reputation for his bravery. He was later recruited by the warlord Sun Quan, who controlled much of the territories in Jiangdong at the time. Sun Quan appointed Xu Sheng as a Major of Separate Command (別べつ部ぶ司馬しば), placed him in command of 500 troops, and appointed him as the Chief of Chaisang (柴しば桑くわ; around present-day Jiujiang, Jiangxi) to defend the county from attacks by Huang Zu, the Administrator of Jiangxia Commandery (江夏えなつ郡ぐん; around present-day Xinzhou District, Wuhan, Hubei).[3]

Huang Zu once sent his son, Huang She (黃き射しゃ), to lead a few thousand troops to attack Chaisang. At the time, Xu Sheng had less than 200 men with him, so they released arrows at Huang She's advancing forces and wounded over 1,000 enemy soldiers. Xu Sheng then ordered the city gates to be opened and they charged out and defeated the enemy. Huang She no longer posed a threat to Xu Sheng after that battle. Xu Sheng was promoted to Colonel (校こう尉じょう) and appointed as the Prefect of Wuhu County. Later, he defeated some bandits in Nan'e (南みなみ阿おもね) and Lincheng (臨城) counties. He was subsequently promoted to General of the Household (中ちゅう郎ろう將しょう) and tasked with overseeing a regiment.[4]

Wars with Cao Cao and Liu Bei

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Main articles: Battle of Ruxu (213), Battle of Xiaoyao Ford, and Battle of Xiaoting

In 213, when Sun Quan's rival Cao Cao led an army to attack Ruxu (濡須; north of present-day Wuwei County, Anhui), Xu Sheng followed Sun Quan to resist the enemy at the Battle of Ruxu. Cao Cao launched a heavy assault on Hengjiang (橫江よこえ; southeast of present-day He County, Anhui, on the northern shore of the Yangtze), so Xu Sheng and Sun Quan's other generals led their forces to defend that position. Strong winds blew their mengchongs (a type of warship) across the river towards Cao Cao's side. Sun Quan's generals were all terrified and did not dare to land on the enemy's grounds. However, Xu Sheng led his men to charge at the enemy and succeeded in killing a few and forcing the rest to retreat. When the winds stopped, Sun Quan's forces returned to their side. Sun Quan highly praised Xu Sheng for his courage.[5]

Between 214 and 215, Sun Quan led his armies to attack Hefei, a strategic fortress defended by Cao Cao's general Zhang Liao, leading to the Battle of Xiaoyao Ford. During an early skirmish, when Sun Quan's forces were just setting up their camps outside Hefei, Zhang Liao suddenly led hundreds of troops on a fierce assault, completely catching the enemy off guard. Xu Sheng's unit was routed and his men turned around and fled. Pan Zhang, another officer under Sun Quan, executed two deserters – one from Xu Sheng's unit and the other from Song Qian's. Xu Sheng had no choice but to gather his remaining men and return to battle.[6] He lost his mao (矛ほこ; a type of long spear) in the earlier clash but He Qi found his weapon later on the battlefield.[7] A plague eventually forced Sun Quan to withdraw his forces from Hefei. As they were retreating, Zhang Liao and his troops launched a sudden counterattack and inflicted a crushing defeat on the enemy at Xiaoyao Ford.

Xu Sheng was promoted to General Who Builds Martial Might (建たて武たけし將軍しょうぐん), enfeoffed as a Marquis of a Chief Village (都と亭てい侯こう), appointed as the Administrator of Lujiang Commandery (廬いおり江え郡ぐん), and given Lincheng County (臨城縣けん) as his marquisate. Between 221 and 222, when the Battle of Xiaoting broke out between Sun Quan and Liu Bei, Xu Sheng participated in the war and succeeded in capturing many enemy camps when Sun Quan's forces launched a counterattack after enduring defeats in earlier engagements.[8]

War with Wei, and death

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Main articles: Battle of Dongkou and Incident at Guangling

In late 222, Cao Pi ordered his general Cao Xiu to lead the Wei armies to attack Dongkou County. In response to the invasion, Xu Sheng, along with Lü Fan and Quan Cong led Sun Quan's forces across the river to defend Dongkou. However, they encountered a storm and many of their troops and ships were lost. Sun Quan's generals were browbeaten because they had lost about half of their ships in the storm, but were overjoyed when they heard of the arrival of He Qi, who reached Dongkou behind schedule and was not affected by the disaster. Coincidentally, He Qi was obsessed with luxuries so his ships were finely decorated and his weapons were of top quality. Cao Xiu was shocked when he witnessed the grandeur display of He Qi's refulgent navy so he paused the attack and withdrew. Xu Sheng managed to gather his surviving troops and form a defence line along the shore. A naval battle ensued, during which Cao Xiu targeted Lü Fan while sending his subordinates to attack Xu Sheng. Xu Sheng was outnumbered but he managed to hold his position. Both sides eventually withdrew their forces. Xu Sheng was subsequently promoted to General Who Stabilises the East (安東あんどう將軍しょうぐん) and elevated from the status of a village marquis to a county marquis under the title "Marquis of Wuhu" (蕪かぶら湖みずうみ侯こう).[9][10]

In late 224, when Cao Pi mobilised a large army to attack Sun Quan, Xu Sheng suggested to pitch encampments from Jianye, erect fake towers within each camp, and suspend some warships on the river. Sun Quan's other generals disagreed and felt that such "defences" would serve no purpose, but Xu Sheng ignored them and proceeded with his plan.

Xu Sheng's ruse effectively led to the construction of a "wall" along the river banks that served as a border stretching over hundreds of li. When Cao Pi reached Guangling Commandery (廣陵こうりょう郡ぐん; covering parts of present-day Jiangsu), he saw Sun Quan's "strong defences" and the high tide and sighed, "Wei has thousands of armed cavalry units but they can't be deployed here".[11] He then withdrew his forces. Sun Quan's generals finally recognised the value of Xu Sheng's plan.[12]

Xu Sheng died sometime during the Huangwu era (222-229) of Sun Quan's reign before Sun Quan declared himself emperor and established the state of Eastern Wu. His militia and marquis title were inherited by his son, Xu Kai (徐じょ楷).[13]

Appraisal

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Xu Sheng was known for his confidence and fervent loyalty towards Sun Quan, as demonstrated in the incident when Xing Zhen (邢貞) came to confer the title "King of Wu" (吳ご王おう) on Sun Quan. In 220, Sun Quan became a vassal of the state of Cao Wei, which replaced the Han dynasty after the Wei founder, Cao Pi, forced Emperor Xian to abdicate the throne to him. Cao Pi sent Xing Zhen as an emissary to meet Sun Quan and confer the title "King of Wu" (吳ご王おう) on him. Xing Zhen behaved arrogantly in front of Sun Quan and incurred much anger from Sun Quan's subjects, including Zhang Zhao and Xu Sheng. Xu Sheng told his colleagues: "Isn't it humiliating to watch our lord submit to Xing Zhen and not be able to serve him with our lives and help him conquer Xu, Luoyang and Bashu?" Tears rolled down his face. When Xing Zhen heard Xu Sheng's remark, he told an aide: "It's obvious from the reactions of the subjects of Jiangdong that they won't remain subservient for long."[14] Xing Zhen was right, because in 222, Sun Quan declared independence from Wei but continued ruling his domain under the title "King of Wu" before declaring himself emperor in 229.

Xu Sheng's ego did not always lead to positive actions though. After the Battle of Ruxu in 217, Zhou Tai was appointed as the commander of the garrison at Ruxu, with Xu Sheng and Zhu Ran as his subordinates. However, both of them were unwilling to submit to Zhou Tai's command, citing the latter's humble origins in comparison to their more affluent family backgrounds. When Sun Quan heard about it, he visited Ruxu and hosted a party for all the officers there, during which he asked Zhou Tai to display his battle scars for all to see. He later awarded Zhou Tai with an imperial parasol. After that incident, Xu Sheng and Zhu Ran agreed to submit to Zhou Tai's command.[15]

Xu Sheng was also known for his tendency to worry too much. When he was serving as the Prefect of Wuhu County, he arrested one of Jiang Qin's subordinates and sought permission from Sun Quan to have that man executed. However, Sun Quan declined because Jiang Qin was away battling bandits in Yuzhang Commandery (豫よ章あきら郡ぐん). Since then, Xu Sheng had been apprehensive of Jiang Qin. During the Battle of Ruxu in 217, Jiang Qin and Lü Meng were placed in charge of military discipline among Sun Quan's forces. Xu Sheng was worried that Jiang Qin might use the opportunity to find fault with him, but much to his surprise, Jiang Qin praised him in front of Sun Quan.[16] When Sun Quan asked Jiang Qin why he did so, Jiang Qin replied that Xu Sheng was "loyal and hardworking, possessed both courage and talent, and was capable of leading thousands of troops".[17]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The Sanguozhi recorded that Xu Sheng died sometime during the Huangwu era (222-229) of Sun Quan's reign.[1] However, Xu Sheng was recorded to be involved in the defence against Cao Pi's invasion in the 3rd year of the Huangwu era (224). Thus, Xu Sheng likely died after 224.

References

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  1. ^ a b (黃き武中たけなか卒そつ。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
  2. ^ de Crespigny (2007), p. 911.
  3. ^ (徐じょ盛もり字じ文ぶん嚮，琅邪莒人也。 ... 遭亂，客きゃく居い吳ご，以勇氣き聞。孫まご權けん統すべ事ごと，以為別べつ部ぶ司馬しば，授兵五ご百ひゃく人にん，守まもり柴しば桑くわ長ちょう，拒こばめ黃き祖そ。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
  4. ^ (祖そ子こ射い，甞率數すう千せん人にん下か攻おさむ盛もり。盛時せいじ吏士不滿ふまん二に百ひゃく，與あずか相あい拒こばめ擊げき，傷きず射しゃ吏士千せん餘人よにん。已やめ乃開門出かどで戰せん，大破たいは之の。射い遂とげ絕ぜっ迹不復ふく為ため寇。 ... 權けん以為校こう尉じょう、蕪かぶら湖みずうみ令れい。復ふく討臨城南じょうなん阿山あやま賊ぞく有功ゆうこう，徙中郎ろう將はた，督とく校こう兵へい。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
  5. ^ (曹公出で濡須，從したがえ權けん禦之。魏ぎ甞大出で橫江よこえ，盛もり與あずか諸しょ將しょう俱赴討。時どき乘じょう蒙こうむ衝，遇ぐう迅風，船ふね落敵岸がん下か，諸しょ將しょう恐懼きょうく，未み有ゆう出で者しゃ，盛もり獨どく將兵しょうへい，上うえ突斫敵てき，敵てき披退走はし，有ゆう所しょ傷きず殺ころせ，風ふう止とめ便びん還かえ，權けん大だい壯たけし之これ。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
  6. ^ (合ごう肥こえ之の役やく，張ちょう遼りょう奄至，諸しょ將しょう不備ふび，陳ちん武たけし鬬死，宋そう謙けん、徐じょ盛もり皆みな披走，璋あきら身み次じ在ざい後ご，便びん馳はせ進すすむ，橫よこ馬ば斬き謙けん、盛もり兵へい走者そうしゃ二に人にん，兵へい皆みな還かえ戰せん。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
  7. ^ (二に十じゅう年ねん，從したがえ權けん征せい合あい肥こえ。時どき城じょう中出なかで戰せん，徐じょ盛もり被ひ創そう失しつ矛ほこ，齊ひとし引兵拒こばめ擊げき，得とく盛もり所しょ失しつ。) Sanguozhi vol. 60.
  8. ^ (後こう遷建武將ぶしょう軍ぐん，封ふう都と亭ちん侯こう，領りょう廬いおり江こう太守たいしゅ，賜たまもの臨城縣けん為ため奉たてまつ邑。劉りゅう備次西陵せいりょう，盛もり攻おさむ取と諸しょ屯たむろ，所しょ向こう有功ゆうこう。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
  9. ^ (曹休出で洞口ほらぐち，盛もり與あずか呂りょ範はん、全ぜん琮渡江え拒こばめ守もり。遭大風ふう，船人ふなびと多た喪も，盛もり收おさむ餘あまり兵へい，與あずか休きゅう夾江。休きゅう使し兵へい將はた就船攻おさむ盛もり，盛もり以少禦多，敵てき不能ふのう克かつ，各かく引軍退すさ。遷安東ひがし將軍しょうぐん，封ふう蕪かぶら湖みずうみ侯こう。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
  10. ^ (黃き武たけ初はつ，魏ぎ使し曹休來らい伐き，齊ひとし以道遠とお後のち至いたり，因いん住じゅう新市しんいち為ため拒こばめ。會かい洞口ほらぐち諸しょ軍ぐん遭風流りゅう溺おぼれ，所しょ亡ほろび中分なかぶん，將士しょうし失しつ色しょく，賴たよ齊ひとし未濟みさい，偏へん軍ぐん獨どく全ぜん，諸しょ將しょう倚以為ため埶。齊ひとし性せい奢おご綺あやぎぬ，尤ゆう好こう軍事ぐんじ，兵へい甲かぶと器械きかい極ごく為ため精しらげ好こう，所しょ乘船じょうせん雕刻丹に鏤ちりばめ，青あお蓋ぶた絳襜，干ひ櫓ろ戈ほこ矛ほこ，葩瓜文ぶん畫が，弓ゆみ弩いしゆみ矢や箭や，咸取上うえ材ざい，蒙こうむ衝鬬艦かん之の屬ぞく，望もち之の若山わかやま。休きゅう等とう憚はばか之これ，遂とげ引軍還かえ。) Sanguozhi vol. 60.
  11. ^ (魏たかし氏し春秋しゅんじゅう云うん：文ぶん帝みかど歎曰：「魏ぎ雖有武ぶ騎き千せん羣，無む所用しょよう也。」) Wei Shi Chunqiu annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 55.
  12. ^ (後ご魏ぎ文ぶん帝みかど大出おおいで，有ゆう渡江とのえ之の志こころざし，盛もり建けん計けい從したがえ建けん業ぎょう築ちく圍かこえ，作さく薄うす落，圍かこえ上じょう設しつらえ假かり樓ろう，江中えなか浮船。諸しょ將しょう以為無益むえき，盛もり不ふ聽，固かた立たて之これ。文ぶん帝みかど到いた廣陵こうりょう，望もち圍かこえ愕然がくぜん，彌漫びまん數すう百ひゃく里り，而江水盛みずもり長ちょう，便びん引軍退すさ。諸しょ將しょう乃伏。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
  13. ^ (黃き武中たけなか卒そつ。子こ楷，襲爵しゅうしゃく領りょう兵へい。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
  14. ^ (及權為ため魏ぎ稱しょう藩はん，魏ぎ使し邢貞拜はい權けん為ため吳くれ王おう。權けん出いで都と亭てい候こう貞さだ，貞さだ有ゆう驕おご色いろ，張ちょう昭あきら旣すんで怒いか，而盛忿憤，顧謂同列どうれつ曰：「盛もり等とう不能ふのう奮身出で命いのち，為ため國家こっか并許洛らく，吞巴蜀しょく，而令吾われ君くん與あずか貞さだ盟めい，不ふ亦また辱はずかしめ乎！」因いん涕泣ていきゅう橫よこ流りゅう。貞さだ聞之，謂いい其旅曰：「江東こうとう將しょう相しょう如此，非ひ乆下人じん者しゃ也。」) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
  15. ^ (曹公出で濡須，泰たい復ふく赴擊，曹公退すさ，留とめ督とく濡須，拜はい平ひら虜とりこ將軍しょうぐん。時とき朱しゅ然しか、徐じょ盛もり等ひとし皆みな在所ざいしょ部ぶ，並なみ不ふ伏ふく也， ... 於是盛もり等とう乃伏。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
  16. ^ (初はつ，欽屯宣せん城じょう，甞討豫よ章あきら賊ぞく。蕪かぶら湖みずうみ令れい徐じょ盛もり收おさむ欽屯吏，表ひょう斬き之これ，權けん以欽在ざい遠とお不ふ許もと，盛もり由ゆかり是ぜ自じ嫌いや於欽。曹公出で濡須，欽與呂りょ蒙こうむ持じ諸しょ軍ぐん節度せつど。盛もり常つね畏かしこ欽因事ごと害がい己おのれ，而欽每ごと稱しょう其善。盛もり旣すんで服ふく德とく，論者ろんしゃ美び焉。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
  17. ^ (江こう表ひょう傳でん曰：權けん謂いい欽曰：「盛もり前ぜん白しろ卿きょう，卿きょう今こん舉盛，欲よく慕祁奚邪？」欽對曰：「臣しん聞公舉不挾はさみ私怨しえん，盛もり忠ただし而勤彊つよし，有ゆう膽略たんりゃく器用きよう，好こう萬まん人にん督とく也。今こん大事だいじ未定みてい，臣しん當とう助すけ國こく求もとめ才ざい，豈あに敢挾私わたし恨以蔽賢乎！」權けん嘉之よしゆき。) Jiang Biao Zhuan annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 55.
  • Chen, Shou (3rd century). Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi).
  • de Crespigny, Rafe (2007). A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms 23-220 AD. Leiden: Brill. ISBN 9789004156050.
  • Pei, Songzhi (5th century). Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi zhu).
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